Erik ten Hag confirms Manchester United are keeping tabs on Alvaro Fernandez deal

Erik ten Hag has confirmed that Manchester United are keeping tabs on former defender Alvaro Fernandez after his sale to Benfica in the summer.

Alvaro Fernandez joined Manchester United in 2020 at a similar time to the likes of Alejandro Garnacho and Charlie McNeill.

However, the left-back departed the club to Benfica in the summer after they actived the buy-option in his loan contract from last season.

Since then, the Spanish defender has become a key player for the Portuguese outfit, featuring in nine matches this season and starting seven.

His impressive performances have now drawn attention from his former club, as well as other top European sides, including Liverpool and Real Madrid.

United also have a buyback clause inserted in his deal at a much cheaper price– around £16m– than his reported £41 million release clause.

Ten Hag has confirmed recent reports that United are open to seeing Fernandez return to the club.

The United boss says that the process has been ‘perfect’ for the 21-year-old so far and believes that United have control over the situation due to the buyback clause inserted.

United are assessing the situation but Ten Hag also cautioned that playing for United in the Premier League is a different beast – although, with zero available left-backs currently, it wouldn’t be too difficult for someone to improve that situation.

“I think the process is perfect. We loan him to Preston, he got back, then we loan him to Granada, he didn’t play so much there, and of course we, all the time, observed him and now we had the opportunity to sell him,” the manager said in his latest press conference.

“But we have a buy-back [clause] so we have control of the situation, I think that’s what he needed.

“From Preston, then go to La Liga, go to Portugal [with Benfica], every time stepping up to a higher club and a better league.

“Now we have to see and assess the situation if he can be an option for us. But playing at Man United is not so easy, playing in the Premier League for Manchester United is not so easy.

“You need experience, also development. You get development from playing for better clubs and in better leagues.”

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